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Vancouver Off the Beaten Path

I was born in Mauritius, Africa and grew up in Vancouver, Canada since I was two years old. After 25 years of my life growing up in Canada, I had an irresistible urge to live somewhere else for an experience and because I knew there was so much more of the world to see.
In 2013 I quit my full-time jobs to work for an NGO in Cambodia for 7 months. I then went to 5 other countries in Southeast Asia, met hundreds of people and it was the best year of my life.
I can't seem to stay away from Cambodia for very long now I'm working for a travel company during my time here and loving it. I've met some of the most generous people I've met in my life in Cambodia.
In my spare time I love riding my motorcycle, cycling, hosting dinners and enjoying the company of funny people.

There is so much more to experience in Vancouver beyond the main tourist stops concentrated around downtown. I'll fill you in on where to go if you fancy exploring the arts scene, sampling authentic ethnic cuisine, experiencing the best of nature, or want to discover great free versions of overpriced tourist attractions.

Good for

History Buff

Art and Architecture Lover

Nightlife Seeker

Nature Lover

Foodie

Peace and Quiet Seeker

Beach Goer

Thrifty Traveler

Like a Local

10 Places

3 City Tips

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Map

10 Places

Commercial Drive

Neighborhoods

Third Beach

Beaches

Naam Restaurant

Restaurants

Vancouver Flea Market

Flea & Street Markets

Lighthouse Park

Lighthouses, Parks

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

Bridges

Cafe Deux Soleils

Restaurants

East is East

Restaurants

Dirty Apron

Restaurants

Vanier Park

Parks

Commercial Drive

1661 Napier St, Vancouver, British Columbia V5L 4X4, Canada

Third Beach

| Seawall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6G 3E2, Canada

Naam Restaurant

2724 4th Ave W, Vancouver, British Columbia V6K 1R1, Canada

Vancouver Flea Market

703 Terminal Ave, Vancouver, British Columbia V6A 2M2, Canada

Lighthouse Park

Beacon Lane, West Vancouver, British Columbia V7W 1K5, Canada

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

3663 Park Rd, North Vancouver, British Columbia V7J 3G3, Canada

Cafe Deux Soleils

2096 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, British Columbia V5N 4B2, Canada

East is East

3243 Broadway W, Vancouver, British Columbia V6K 2H5, Canada

Dirty Apron

540 Beatty St, Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 2L3, Canada

Vanier Park

1100 Chestnut St, Vancouver, British Columbia V6J 3J9, Canada

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Commercial Drive

Neighborhoods

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Third Beach

Beaches

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Naam Restaurant

Restaurants

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Vancouver Flea Market

Flea & Street Markets

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Lighthouse Park

Lighthouses, Parks

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Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

Bridges

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Cafe Deux Soleils

Restaurants

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East is East

Restaurants

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Dirty Apron

Restaurants

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Vanier Park

Parks

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Mel C's City Tips

Head downtown to try the various street food carts which have opened in recent years.

When you're eating out at a restaurant, it's customary to tip 15% to 20%, depending on how good you felt the service was.

You can get around the city by SkyTrain, bicycle, bus, or SeaBus. If you're going out for the day, it will be cheaper to buy a day-pass.

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Commercial Drive

Neighborhoods

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Mel C Says:

If you want to get away from the mainstream stops, then head down to Commercial Drive — or 'The Drive' as locals call it — where you can find a variety of organic products, ethnic restaurants, fair trade products, quality local cafes, and an extremely diverse community (it being the place where people can express themselves however they wish). This Drive is also the Little Italy of Vancouver, so you can find quality Italian food among the authentic Belgium fries and local coffee shops.

Good for

LGBT

Thrifty Traveler

Like a Local

Solo

Friends

Couples

Family

Art and Architecture Lover

Tips

If you’re in town on a Friday or Saturday, you can join the two and a half hour walking tour of the Drive’s Little Italy cafés, delis, and bakeries.

In addition to selling fairly traded coffee, Continental Cafe has the best hot chocolate I've had in Vancouver - served with chocolate whipping cream!

Stop by Ten Thousand Villages, a store with several locations around Vancouver. It sells fair trade handicrafts that support the livelihoods of people around the world.

Get away from the over-crowded English Bay and cycle around the seawall until you hit Third Beach. Here, it's less crowded, the water is cleaner, and during the summer you can catch a beautiful late sunset. In the summer months, every sunny Tuesday there is an open drum circle, and it's one of my favorite places to hang out in Vancouver. People come and bring their own instruments and dance until sundown as a way of creating community and inclusiveness. (I personally think some of the best things to do in Vancouver are free like the seawall and drum circles!)

Good for

Peace and Quiet Seeker

Beach Goer

Hidden Gems

Like a Local

Nature Lover

Tips

Bring bike lights or a headlamp if you plan to stay at the beach after sunset; this way you can continue cycling along the seawall safely to head back to town.

You can rent bikes on Denman Street, Davie Street, or around downtown.

As an experienced food connoisseur, Naam satisfies my cravings for delicious and fresh food at fair prices. While Naam, a 100% vegetarian restaurant, is situated a little outside of downtown, it's well worth the trip for the generous portions of food and great flavors. Naam's food awards are well-deserved: it has been serving amazing vegetarian and vegan dishes for over 40 years, and uses only the freshest of ingredients, which makes all the difference.

Good for

Foodie

Hidden Gems

Like a Local

Tips

The Naam Dragon Bowl is a popular choice among regulars.

There's live music every day from 7pm to 10pm.

Grab a taxi from downtown, and it's just a ten-minute ride to the restaurant across the bridge.

While the service may be slow sometimes, the meal will be worth the wait.

This restaurant is open 24 hours and it's not uncommon to see people enjoying a meal at 3am.

If you're looking for unique collectibles, vintage items, or random items that you didn't even know you wanted, then the Vancouver Flea Market is worth a trip. They have everything from jewelry to instruments to electronic, so if you have the patience to dig through a lot of unwanted things, you could find exactly the treasures you are looking for. Plus, it's never too early to start your Halloween shopping!

Good for

Thrifty Traveler

Hidden Gems

Like a Local

Solo

Friends

Senior

Shopping Fanatic

Family

Tips

The market is just a five-minute walk from the Main Street SkyTrain Station.

Vancouver is famous for its infinite number of trails, so if the weather is decent, why not head to Lighthouse Park to enjoy a picnic and a scenic walk. The 75-hectare (185 acre) park is covered with virgin rainforest set right on the water, and has easy to moderate trails that are good for all ages and abilities. Even many local 'Vancourites' have never made the trip to see Lighthouse Park, so take advantage to get truly off the beaten path while you can.

Good for

Peace and Quiet Seeker

Thrifty Traveler

Hidden Gems

Nature Lover

Tips

Take bus #250 from downtown and continue across the Lions Gate Bridge and through Dundarave Village. The bus stop for Lighthouse Park is just past Beacon Lane on Marine Drive.

Locals love the Valley of the Giants and the Beacon Lane trails.

The Beacon Lane Trail will take you straight to the lighthouse viewpoint. (The sea views from these trails are among the most beautiful sights to see in Vancouver.)

Most tourists don't know about this free version of the overpriced Capilano Suspension Bridge, which is, funnily enough, less than a 15-minute drive away. While it is a shorter bridge and only 50 meters (164 feet) high, the views are no less stunning, and though it may shake and swing a little from side to side, it is just as safe as the other tourist bridge too. Plus, once you finish your courageous walk across to the other side, you can enjoy the beautiful hiking trails that lead to a popular natural pool and waterfalls.

Good for

Peace and Quiet Seeker

Thrifty Traveler

Hidden Gems

Like a Local

Nature Lover

Tips

The best times to go to is in the summer between May and September.

From downtown, take the SeaBus to the Lonsdale Quay. From there take bus #228 to Lynn Valley Center, which is a 15-minute walk from Lynn Canyon Park's main entrance.

If you're into arts, music, or just simply like some quirky fun, then you'll definitely find your kind of crowd at Cafe Deux Soleils on Commercial Drive. This is one of the few places in Vancouver that has regular arts events at affordable prices, like the weekly Vancouver Poetry Slam, fictional comedy shows, and open mic nights. The restaurant provides a great space for experienced and new artists alike to share their talent and express themselves freely.

Good for

Thrifty Traveler

Hidden Gems

Like a Local

Solo

Friends

Couples

Nightlife Seeker

Tips

There is a small entrance fee for special events, and the money goes to the top performers.

I'm always trying out new restaurants around Vancouver, but East is East remains consistently in my top three favorite places to dine. My top food picks are always based on flavor, but this restaurant also scores highly for its quality service and price point. The founders escaped from Afghanistan during the soviet war and first relocated to India - immersing themselves in the country’s language, art and cuisine - which serves as the inspiration here. Their passion is to create something unique that stands out from other ethnic restaurants, and their commitment to a sustainable lifestyle is reflected in the restaurant’s design, traditional music, and vibrant flavors. The owners integrate local organic ingredients and use sustainable materials to decorate the restaurant. Come and soak in the vibrant atmosphere and flavors while listening to one of the many world-class musicians play for your pleasure.

Good for

Foodie

Solo

Friends

Couples

Senior

Nightlife Seeker

Tips

Contact the restaurant to find out which nights they have belly dancers performing.

East is East is vegetarian and vegan friendly. Their vegan soup is one of the best soup’s I’ve tried in Vancouver.

You can't come to a restaurant like this without trying one of the chai teas. Plus, they offer free samples!

Vancouver is heaven for foodies as we are spoiled with food from around the world, including Ethiopia, Japan, Greece and Afghanistan. Why not learn to make some of these fine cuisines yourself so you can leave the city with some quality culinary skills of your own? The Dirty Apron Cooking School offers classes with high-quality chefs and trainers, so whether you're a beginner or a seasoned cook, you'll learn how to make a meal that's sure to satisfy you foodie side. You can choose from a range of classes that focus on food from a variety of countries too, from French to contemporary Persian cuisine.

Good for

Foodie

Tips

Register on the website to save your spot - many classes fill up quickly.

While Vanier Park is close to the heart of downtown near English Bay, many visitors don't make time to stop here. Yet this small park is well worth a look, with three museums to explore in addition to a spectacular view by the water. If you have kids, the HR MacMillion Space Center would be a great place to bring them, where they can enjoy live science demonstrations, games in the Cosmic Courtyard, and shows about astronomy in the Planetarium Star Theater. For history buffs, the Vancouver Museum, Vancouver Maritime Museum, and the City of Vancouver Archives are all good choices.

Good for

Peace and Quiet Seeker

History Buff

Nature Lover

Tips

From downtown at the Granville and Georgia intersection, take the #004 or #007 bus across the Granville Bridge to get to Vanier Park.